Your past is never passed

The Gunman is a gritty, gruelling and violent 'dodgy security operative' thriller in a similar vein to many other films (like Blood Diamond) that use African instability and civil wars as the backdrop to mercenary crimes. Almost no character comes out of this film looking good.

The script is plausible if a little predictable. The acting is top notch: it is delightful to see Mark Rylance on the big screen. But heaven knows how many hours in the gym that Sean Penn does each week. This is a not a memorable film but one that can be enjoyed on a wet windy afternoon.

The narratives of so many thrillers like this one hinge on trust & loyalty - just who can you trust. Frankly I don't know how spies and mercenaries can ever form lasting relationships with anyone as they must always be wondering what next...

And maybe it's the same for leaders: does the leader always wonder whether they are trusted or not? Some leaders seem not to care: good leaders know that with trust comes so much more. Trust is the most precious thing a leader can have: it is hard won (and easily lost). And sometimes, it is your past catching up with you that might catch you out...

What have you done today to sustain the trust that people have in you?

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This is the eighty second of my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.